Jamaican Broadcasting Icon, Leonie Forbes has died

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#Jamaica, October 29, 2022 – The broadcasting fraternity in Jamaica has lost another icon. Described by her country as a veteran broadcaster and actress, Leonie Forbes passed away on Tuesday, October 25, at the age of 85.

According to The National Library of Jamaica, Forbes grew up in Kingston as an only child.

As an actress, she played leading roles in twelve pantomimes and acted in plays such as “Sea Mama”, “Miss Unusual”, “The Rope and the Cross”, “Old Story Time,” and “Champagne and Sky Juice”.

She was also featured in films such as “Children of Babylon” (1980), “Club Paradise” (1986), “The Orchid House” (1991), “Milk and Honey” (1995), “What My Mother Told Me” (1995) and “Soul Survivor” (1995), The National Library of Jamaica said.

The mother of four was also an author. She authored a book called “The Re-Entry Into Sound“, along with Alma Mock Yen, formerly of the UWI’s Radio Education Unit. This is a standard text used to train broadcasters all over the Caribbean.

Throughout her life, Forbes received several honours and awards. These include:

• “My Life in the Theatre” medal by the Mexican Theatre Centre of the International Theatre Institute for outstanding theatre personalities of Latin America and the Caribbean (2001)
• Order of Distinction (Officer Class) Government of Jamaica (1980)
• Silver Musgrave Medal
• Centenary Medal
• Bronze Musgrave Medal (1973)

Following the passing of the broadcasting extraordinaire, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, paid tribute to her via Twitter.

“Leonie Forbes is a name synonymous with Jamaica and with Jamaican theatre and broadcast. She was always elegant and gracious, and her voice commanded both respect and admiration,” Holness said.

Adding that: “We say thanks to Leonie for her contribution to Jamaican Arts and Culture, and we express our deep sadness at her passing.”